The National Police Service has announced that it has launched a swift and comprehensive investigation after the shocking revelations made in the BBC Africa Eye documentary titled Madams: Exposing Kenya’s Child Sex Trade.
The documentary exposed a deeply disturbing network of child trafficking and sexual exploitation in Kenya, with Maai Mahiu being one of the main areas highlighted.
The police have now responded to the public outcry and committed to acting on the matter urgently.
Speaking on behalf of the NPS, Spokesperson Muchiri Nyaga confirmed that a multi-agency team has already been deployed to tackle the issue.
“Immediate steps have also been taken to identify, rescue, and support the affected children. Investigations are ongoing, with the aim of arresting and prosecuting the perpetrators,” Nyaga noted.
The task force includes officers from the Anti-Human Trafficking and Child Protection Unit who have already begun their work on the ground, taking statements from three persons of interest.
The NPS has made it clear that it is treating this issue with the seriousness it deserves. It emphasized its commitment to safeguarding children as provided in Article 53(1) of the Constitution of Kenya and Section 8 of the Children Act (2022).
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations is now leading the probe to ensure that all reports of child trafficking and abuse are handled thoroughly and result in justice.
Spokesperson Muchiri Nyaga further said, “We must reaffirm a fundamental tenet: our children are our future,” adding that the police service will do everything possible to provide a safe environment for children in Kenya to grow and thrive. The statement underlines the seriousness of the child exploitation issue and the police’s intention to respond with both urgency and care.
Nyaga also pointed out that the threat is not only limited to physical trafficking. “We also recognise the growing threat of online child sexual exploitation, which prompted the establishment of a dedicated forensic cybercrime unit the first of its kind in Africa linked directly to INTERPOL’s International Child Sexual Exploitation (ICSE) database,” he said.
This unit, according to Nyaga, is made up of cybercrime experts who work with the International Victim Identification Network to track and rescue children exploited through online content.
The NPS ended its statement by calling on members of the public to play an active role in this fight. They have encouraged citizens to come forward with any information that may help in identifying and arresting those involved in this criminal network.
Anyone with helpful tips is asked to visit the nearest police station, report to a law enforcement officer, or use the NPS’s confidential and toll-free hotline numbers.
